Taking DSLR on safari - what extra kit to take?

[Gavstar]

Hi
I have a Canon 1000D with 3 lenses - kit, fixed and zoom (55-250mm) and will soon be hopefully going to South Africa, including a few safari trips. I'm wondering if the dusty environment means i should be thinking about special cleaning kit or protective cases etc? At the moment i only have a cloth for cleaning the lenses, so would i be better off buying an air can or something?
Any other precautions I should take to protect my gear?
I guess it would be sensible to get UV protectors for all the lenses wouldnt it?

[Simpo Two]

Giotto Rocket Blower.

Just take care of your kit and use common sense, ie don't change lenses in the middle of a sandstorm

[Dogsey]

Simpo Two said:

Giotto Rocket Blower.

Just take care of your kit and use common sense, ie don't change lenses in the middle of a sandstorm

What he said.

Oh and whatever you do don't use a can of compressed air unless you fancy buying a new camera.

[SirClarke]

Take a bean bag as taking photos on bumpy tracks from, often moving, safari vehicles makes it almost impossible to be steady all the time.

[Simpo Two]

Plus, for great chasing lion shots tie meat to the front of the lens...

[havoc]

Do a search on TripAdvisor and the Fodors forum (both the Tanzania sub-fora IIRC) - there's a couple of VERY good threads about safari photography.

But in a nutshell:-
- DO use a lens hood
- DON'T use a C-P filter for animal shots, only for landscapes. UV filter on the front is essential though.
- DON'T change lenses in the field unless you desperately have to, and then in a stationary vehicle with closed windows and ideally under a coat or something - there is LOTS of dust out there, like you wouldn't believe. IMHO the 55-250 will be perfect for almost everything while you're out-and-about.
- Beanbag will be useful, but getting the driver to turn the engine off before taking a photo will be more useful
- Image Stab'n is your friend
- DO take plenty of memory cards, and/or a backup device.
- DO take a spare battery
- DO take a good cleaning kit - lens cloth / rocket blower / etc.
- Don't be afraid to ask the driver to stop/wait for a bit, or to move a little. They get paid to provide a service, and also tend to rely on 'tips' at the end of the safari, so tend to be helpful.


Finally, the usual photo tips (which you can forget in the heat of the "ooh, it's a *******" moment):-
- Think about the background (I've a great photo of an ostrich with a green mohican because the bush in the background is in the wrong place! )
- Think about light (if possible...not often possible to move the car and animals are very uncooperative creatures)
- You don't need to frame it perfectly in-camera - that's what PS is for. Just get the shot at the right time.

[VxDuncan]

Simpo Two said:

Giotto Rocket Blower.

Just take care of your kit and use common sense, ie don't change lenses in the middle of a sandstorm

As simpo says. Many are against them, but I would seriously go for a set of UV filters as well. You will find the African children are very interested in your camera, and before you know it you have a front element full of grit and snot! Obviously on a long safari day maybe take the filter off the long lens, but otherwise wouldn't worry. Otherwise the usual rules of lots of memory cards and batteries, and know your camera inside out, not the place to be learning how to use the thing!

[bramley]

Gavstar said:

Hi
I have a Canon 1000D with 3 lenses - kit, fixed and zoom (55-250mm) and will soon be hopefully going to South Africa, including a few safari trips. I'm wondering if the dusty environment means i should be thinking about special cleaning kit or protective cases etc? At the moment i only have a cloth for cleaning the lenses, so would i be better off buying an air can or something?
Any other precautions I should take to protect my gear?
I guess it would be sensible to get UV protectors for all the lenses wouldnt it?

If I was you I'd consider hiring a decent lens for the trip (not slating your existing lenses btw). For a trip of a lifetime, it'd be worth the small cost to get the right shots.

[_dobbo_]

Agree with everything posted so far - I'll add a couple of bits.

Unless you are very lucky, 250mm will be too short, I'd rent something longer.

Watch your luggage weight limits, and make sure you have a bag that offers easy access and can fit your body with the longest lens attached - this is what you will use most of the time.

Duncan is right about the African kids - they will want to touch your stuff! Take an empty bean bag and fill it with sand once you arrive - saves on weight. Don't be afraid to ask the driver to turn the engine off - the vibration can be a nightmare otherwise.

[Simpo Two]

_dobbo_ said:

Duncan is right about the African kids - they will want to touch your stuff! Take an empty bean bag and fill it with sand once you arrive...

To whack the kids with I presume!

[_dobbo_]

Oh dear, the perils of a missing paragraph break!

[Gavstar]

Thanks for the responses so far. By beanbag, I assume you mean a very small one, or do you really mean a large one to sit on?

Re hiring a lens - any recommended retailers and what lens would you recommend?

[havoc]

Gavstar said:

Thanks for the responses so far. By beanbag, I assume you mean a very small one, or do you really mean a large one to sit on?

Re hiring a lens - any recommended retailers and what lens would you recommend?

Small one - think about those 'wheat bag' hot-water-bottle substitutes and halve it.

[Dogsey]

lensesforhire.co.uk is my favoured lens hire company. I'm not sure on their policy for taking lenses overseas so it may be worth giving Stuart a call first.

[_dobbo_]

havoc said:

Gavstar said:

Thanks for the responses so far. By beanbag, I assume you mean a very small one, or do you really mean a large one to sit on?

Re hiring a lens - any recommended retailers and what lens would you recommend?

Small one - think about those 'wheat bag' hot-water-bottle substitutes and halve it.

It's for resting your camera on when you're standing in the safari truck - a big lens/camera gets heavy and the beanbag will help damp any movement.

[Gavstar]

havoc said:

Do a search on TripAdvisor and the Fodors forum (both the Tanzania sub-fora IIRC) - there's a couple of VERY good threads about safari photography.

But in a nutshell:-
- DO use a lens hood
- DON'T use a C-P filter for animal shots, only for landscapes. UV filter on the front is essential though.
- DON'T change lenses in the field unless you desperately have to, and then in a stationary vehicle with closed windows and ideally under a coat or something - there is LOTS of dust out there, like you wouldn't believe. IMHO the 55-250 will be perfect for almost everything while you're out-and-about.
- Beanbag will be useful, but getting the driver to turn the engine off before taking a photo will be more useful
- Image Stab'n is your friend
- DO take plenty of memory cards, and/or a backup device.
- DO take a spare battery
- DO take a good cleaning kit - lens cloth / rocket blower / etc.
- Don't be afraid to ask the driver to stop/wait for a bit, or to move a little. They get paid to provide a service, and also tend to rely on 'tips' at the end of the safari, so tend to be helpful.


Finally, the usual photo tips (which you can forget in the heat of the "ooh, it's a *******" moment):-
- Think about the background (I've a great photo of an ostrich with a green mohican because the bush in the background is in the wrong place! )
- Think about light (if possible...not often possible to move the car and animals are very uncooperative creatures)
- You don't need to frame it perfectly in-camera - that's what PS is for. Just get the shot at the right time.

Thanks for the tips. Re the lens hood - which type would you recommend and under what conditions is it best to use a hood?

[thinfourth2]

Personal choice

Take nothing and remember the exciting bits instead of missing them by arsing about with a camera

[havoc]

Gavstar said:

Re the lens hood - which type would you recommend and under what conditions is it best to use a hood?

What type - OE almost always the best (although not always the cheapest - I deferred getting the OE one for the Canon 70-300 for a couple of years as it's a lot of money for a bit of plastic, but I knew I needed it for safari).
- for a long-range lens, most are cone-shaped.
- for wide angle, most tend to be petal-shaped.

When to use: Whenever you've a strong source of light, so pretty much all the time on safari.

[Bee_Jay]

havoc said:

Gavstar said:

Re the lens hood - which type would you recommend and under what conditions is it best to use a hood?

What type - OE almost always the best (although not always the cheapest - I deferred getting the OE one for the Canon 70-300 for a couple of years as it's a lot of money for a bit of plastic, but I knew I needed it for safari).
- for a long-range lens, most are cone-shaped.
- for wide angle, most tend to be petal-shaped.

When to use: Whenever you've a strong source of light, so pretty much all the time on safari.

Just have the lens hood on all the time - also servers well to protect the end of the lens against knocks and bangs etc, especially when no filter on (I am one of those that never uses UV filters, but always a lens hood...)

[_dobbo_]

thinfourth2 said:

Personal choice

Take nothing and remember the exciting bits instead of missing them by arsing about with a camera

Terrible advice.